The death toll has risen in the ongoing, multi-state listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta products sold at stores, such as Walmart, Kroger and Trader Joe's.
Seven new cases of listeria poisoning, also known as listerosis, have been confirmed in three additional states since the previous investigation update on Sept. 25, increasing the sickness toll during the outbreak to 27 across 18 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes two additional deaths, bringing the total of fatalities to six as of Oct. 30.
Of the 27 sickened individuals, 25 were hospitalized, and one associated illness resulted in fetal loss, the FDA reported. The FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the multistate outbreak.
The outbreak, which the agencies began investigating in June, has been traced back to contaminated precooked pasta sold by Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc. and used in pasta salads, frozen meals and other deli products sold at several major grocery chains.
In a Sept. 29 statement, Nate's Fine Foods said it initiated a voluntary recall "out of an abundance of caution" and was assisting the investigating health agencies.
